Cleaning machine for dry and wet cleaning of garments and the like



W. F. GLASS CLEANING MACHINE FOR DRY AND WET CLEANING Nov. 14, 1950 OF GARMENTS AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1946 INVENTOR. \/\/|||u= Illlass BY /4 Q dud/E w ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 14, 1950 w. F. GLASS CLEANING MACHINE FOR DRY AND WET CLEANING- OF GARMENTS AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1946 INVENTOR. W! I llE E BIC-55 Nov. 14, 1950 w. F. GLASS 2,529,802

CLEANING MACHINE FOR DRY AND WET CLEANING 0F GARMENTS AND THE LIKE Filed July 1, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 L l'a LeveQ INVENTOR.

WIHLE f lfiii ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 14, 1950 CLEANING MACHINE FOR DRY AND WET CLEANING OF GARMENTS AND THE LIKE Willie F. Glass, Gulfport, Miss.

Application July 1, 1946, Serial No. 680,693

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in apparatus adaptable for dry or wet cleaning of garments or other materials.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of improved cleaning apparatus which is compact and relatively cheap to operate and wherein the fabric or other material to be cleaned are circulated and treated in an improved manner.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved type of washing machine wherein the garments are agitated through fluid control.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved apparatus for the dry or wet cleaning of fabrics or other materials. It includes improved means for circulating the solvent or washing fluid,

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the improved cleaning apparatus.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the improved washing machine or unit.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the improved washing unit.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the washing machine or unit substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the improved washing unit.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved washing machine or unit which is adapted to receive a liquid, preferably a solvent or cleaning liquid, if the apparatus is used for dry cleaning. The liquid is cleaned in a filter B which is preferably of the construction set forth in my concurrently filed application Serial No. 680,694 filed July 1, 1946, an air compressor C being provided for supplying the aerating and garment-agitating supply of air to the washing unit A. I preferably provide an improved power unit or motor D for operating the air compressor 0; said power unit or motor being of the fluid-operated type as set forth in my concurrently filed application Serial No. 680,695 filed July 1, 1946, now abandoned.

Referring to the detailed construction of the washing machine or unit A, the same includes a preferably cylindrical wall structure 10, having a downwardly tapering bottom ll terminating in an axial drain tube or conduit l2, as shown in Figure 5. The liquid enters the compartment 13 through a line I4 which is connected in the upper part of the receptacle, the washing liquid entering the machine from the filter B, by gravity,

It is a purpose of this invention to provide a washing unit in which the garments or materials to be cleaned are agitated by fluid control. To that end, surrounding the lower part of the cylindrical tank [0, immediately above the plane of the top of the sloping bottom II I provide a circular or ring-shaped pipe line 20, into which air is admitted from the pipe line 2| leading from the compressor 0, as shown in Figure 1. This annular conduit 20 has inclined curved riser conduits 25 extending upwardly therefrom, preferably at about an angle of 45 degrees to the horizontal plane of the conduit 20 and connected therewith by appropriate union 26. The risers 25 may be in any approved number. They curve around the outside walls l0 and are connected therewith by a suitable number of laterals 30. The laterals or jet connections 30 are non-radially arranged, as shown in Figure 2 and open into the inner walls of the tank, as shown at 3| in Figure 5. In addition to being arranged non-radially or chordally with respect to the container I 0', they have. a downward slope so that the jets of air entering the compartment l3 are forced tangentially into the compartment and at the same time downward at an angle, preferably normal to the line of the conduit 25.

The conduit 20 is also provided with radial laterals 35, shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. They enter the compartment I3 immediately above the plane of the top of the bottom wall structure I I for supplying jets of air radially into the compartment l3.

A perforated garment-supporting wall or baffle 49 lies at the top of the wall structure II, and in the compartment portion 41 below the baffle or perforated plate 40 is disposed a spray-head type of inlet 42. It is of rather small diameter and axially disposed in the container, having an air inlet connection 43 connecting with the line 2|, as shown in Figure 5.

Referring to the washing treatment of the garment or other materials in the washing unit, the solvent or washing liquid enters the compartment I3 to the level indicated in Figure 5, through the line M. This level is preferably maintained at all times. Air under pressure flows through the line 2i from the compressor C, and the air passing in jet-like fashion through the openings 3| gives the garment and the liquid a whirling motion; the air forcing the garments to move in a rotating downward fashion within the compartment !3 due to the inclined position of the lateral 36, The air entering the bottom of the compartment 13 through the laterals 35 throws the cleaning liquid and the garments suspended therein toward the center of the bafile 40 and the garments are thenlifted upwardly by the blast or jets of air coming from the inlet structure 42. Thus, the garments have a circular swirling downward movement around the walls of the tank and thenupwardly axially of the compartment and they continue this cycle until the end of the Wash ng QIQle-aning p Referring more particularly to the apparatus and method of control of the solvent and the air stream, the power unit D is really a fluid motor operated in a manner described in detail in my aforesaid co-pending application Serial No. 680,695 filed July 1, 1946, the same having a driven wheel 50 connected at ll with the air compressor operating shaft. The operating liquid is stored in a container 53 at a level indicated at 54 and the liquid under pressure is forced through a line 55 into the power unit; a va1ve56 being provided for controlling the flow. Of course some air pressure source must be provided for placing the liquid in the container 53 under pressure. This may consist of an automatic air compressor 5'! having a line connection at 58 with the operating liquid container 53. The line 58 may have a control valve 59 and .a pressure reducer valve 60 will maintain a constant or desired pressure upon the liquid in the tank 53.

As .has been fully disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 680,695 filed July 1, 1946, I preferably provide a constant delivery pump 60 operated at 6| from the power unit D for returning the liquid from the power unit through a line 61 to the operating storage tank 53. A check valve 62 may be placed in this line to prevent back pressure of liquid from normal flow.

The drain line 12 .opens into a button trap 65 from which a line 66extends into the filter B. The filter B is preferably of the construction .set forth in my above identified application Serial No. 680,694 filed July 1, 1946, having therein a filtering bag or receptacle 6! into which a spray head 68 (connected with the line 66) opens. In the line .66 I provide an .air jet 69; the air being supplied from a line 10 leading from the automatic air compressor 57. This jet is for the purpose of lifting the dirty solvent or washing liquid from .the washing machine A into the filter unit .3. In the line 66 at each side of the jet. 69

I may :place control valves 13 and 14, and in the line 70 adjacent to the jet 169 .I may place a pressure reducing valve 16 for maintaining the desired pressure upon the jet. A valve .11 -may be placed between the pressure reducing valveand the air compressor 57. Additionally, in the line 66 I may place a pressure gauge 80-, and in the line 66 adjacent to the button trap 65 I may place a check valve 8 i The general cycle of operation will'be apparent from the foregoing. The filter B is located upon a. frame support so that solvent will fiow from the top of the filter B through the line 14 into the top of the washing unit A, as above described. In this line i l I prefer to place a sight glass 85 to see if the filter liquid is flowing from the filter to the washing unit, and to note the condition thereof. The washing solution is aerated in the washer, and the garments or other materials agitated in the manner above described. The dirty solvent is removed from the bottom of the washing machine by means of the air lifting jet 69 and thence returned to the filter B. In the bottom of the filter I provide a valve controlleddrain line 81 sothat the liquid may be drained from the filter to a storage tank 88. This storage tank 88 may have .a valve controlled. line connection 89 opening into the line 66 so the drained cleaning liquid from the filter may be withdrawn from the storage tank and returned to the filter, as will be perfectly obvious.

A separate air compressor C is desired for the washing unit; this compressor being operated at large capacity, since the air is lost after passing through the washing unit. Of course, the automatic air compressor operates to supply air to the power unit system wherein the air under pressure is not lost, and the air jet 69 does not utilize the air in the amount required for the washing unit. Steam or air or other fluid may be supplied to the washer unit through the line 2|; the term fluid as used herein being interpreted under the broad meaning.

It will be noted that there are no projections in the washing unit upon which the garments will catch and the entire treatment of the solvent and garments throughout the cycle is handled .by means of air control without the intervention of any other moving parts[ Various changes and arrangements of parts may be made to the invention herein described and claimed without departing from the spirit of the inventions or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine the combination of an elongated, upstanding cylindrical container having a compartment therein, means for admitting a washing liquid to the compartment, pressure fluid supplying means, including a pipeline encircling the container adjacent the bottom thereof, riser conduits extending therefrom and inclined to the longitudinal axis of the container and extending upwardly along its outer surface, spaced-apart laterals extending from each riser conduit and opening into said compartment, and other conduits opening into the compartment and extending radially from said pipeline.

2. In a washing machine, the combination of an elongated upstanding cylindrical container having a substantially vertically-disposed cylindrical wall and a compartment within the container, pressure fluid supplying means, including a pipeline encircling the container adjacent the bottom thereof, riser conduits extending therefrom and inclined to the longitudinal axis of the container and extending upwardly along its outer surface, spaced apart laterals extending from each riser conduit through said wall and opening into said compartment downwardly and chordally with respect to the vertical axis of said wall, and other conduits opening into the compartment below said laterals andextending radially from said pipeline.

WILLIE F. GLASS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 217,900 Perkes July 29, 1879 400,443 Cooper Apr. 2, 1889 571,758 Foster Nov. 24, 1896 654,647 Koppelmann July 31, 1900 655,717 Koppel-r-nann Aug. 14, 1900 920,171 Parker May 4, 1909 1,115,072 I-I'ennig Oct. 27, 1914 1,649,572 Clark Nov. 15, 1927 2,025,800 Burslem' Dec. 21, 1935 2,087,775 Mathews July 20, 1937 2,115,622 Dawson Apr. 26, 1938 2,130,817 Shaw Sept. 20, 1938 2,270,805 Evans 1 Jan. 20, 1942 I FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 753,546 France Aug. 12, 1933 

